The Aquino administration has given the Philippines a dubious distinction as one of the worst countries to work in, the Trade Union Congress of Philippines said on Wednesday.
Citing the findings of the International Trade Union Confederation, TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said that 73 percent of the 39 million labor force are not regularized: they work as contractual for five months while majority of them do not receive lawful minimum wage.
“They are also fired from their jobs if they try to form a union that can bargain higher wages and benefits from employer profits,” the TUCP said.
The ITUC’s Global Rights Index rates countries on a scale of 1 (best) to 5 (worst) depending on their compliance with collective labor rights. This is done by evaluating 97 indicators, such as workers’ rights to establish or join unions, to collective bargaining and to strike.
The Philippines scored 5, which means there is “no guarantee of rights,” along with 23 other countries.
Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices,” the ITUC report said.
“Without security of tenure, Filipino workers also suffer from lack of social protection services provided by the government. Government sell basic services to private ownership who exist to earn profits and not serve the public good,” Mendoza said.
Filipino workers also don’t have unemployment insurance to protect them when they lost their jobs; health insurance is high and unstable.
“Workers are also vulnerable to unstable prices of basic commodities. Sometimes government failed to assure supply and workers often suffer for it,” the TUCP said.
Based on the report, having a 1 rating means collective labor rights are “generally guaranteed”, and violations against workers do not occur on a regular basis.
“Countries such as Denmark and Uruguay led the way through their strong labor laws, but perhaps surprisingly, the likes of Greece, the United States and Hong Kong, lagged behind,” said ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow.
“A country’s level of development proved to be a poor indicator of whether it respected basic rights to bargain collectively, strike for decent conditions, or simply join a union at all,” she added.
The ITUC noted that workers in at least 53 countries have either been dismissed or suspended from their jobs “for attempting to negotiate better working conditions.”
While many countries recognize the right to strike, ITUC noted that at least 87 countries exclude certain types of workers from this right. There are also 37 countries that impose fines or even jail time for workers who go on strikes.
“In countries such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia, the exclusion of migrant workers from collective labor rights means that effectively more than 90 per cent of the workforce is unable to have access to their rights leading to forced labor practices in both countries supported by archaic sponsorship laws.
Several Southeast Asian countries also scored 5, such as Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia and South Korea.
Middle Eastern countries Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, where many Filipinos are working, also received a score of 5.
However, there were countries that had even worse conditions, getting a score of 5+. These are: Libya, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Central African Republic. The rating of 5+ means there is no guarantee of workers’ rights due to breakdown of the rule of law. Manila Standard
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